The world’s largest houseplant grower is facing pressure from agricultural workers in Apopka and across Florida to adopt enforceable outdoor worker safeguards, including protections against extreme heat, pesticides, and other labor abuses such as wage theft and sexual harassment on the job.
It’s part of a new “Planting Justice” campaign formally launched by worker advocacy groups this past Valentine’s Day.
“About 80 percent of the plants that are being produced in the United States are being grown and cultivated here in the state of Florida, and it’s really places like Homestead, like Apopka, that are the epicenter of that national industry,” said Oscar Londono of the Miami-based advocacy group WeCount!, speaking to Orlando Weekly outside the Farmworker Association of Florida headquarters in Apopka Tuesday…